It is not possible to reach: the digital gap that excludes persons with disabilities
propagandaTravel companies They lose millions of income because their websites are almost impossible For use for persons with disabilities. Online environments have been evaluated by two major agents: Webaim, a non -profit organization for improving the web experience Users with disabilitiesAnd Audioeye, a company specialized in digital access.
Both reports cite travel sites like some of those who work worse in terms of access. The “Million” report of Webaim assessed access to the most visited web sites and discovered that, in general, web pages were almost online 60 error on your home page17 % more than last year.
Audioeye Digital Access Conversion also Discover problemsAnd citing more common mistakes, bad color contrast, inaccurate links and inaccurate shapes.
According to the World Health Organization, one in every six residents of the planet suffers from a type of disability. At least 2.2 billion people suffer A kind of visual disabilityand It is estimated that approximately 400 million suffers from serious vision problems. A total of 43 million people were registered as a blind person.
“With about 20 % of the population who announce that they have some disability, they ignore the accessories of the possibility It can have a negative impact on a large number of potential customers Web visitors explain to “Euronews Travel” JARED SMTH, CEO of Webaim.
Many have been investigated The value of the disabled travelers service. In the United Kingdom, it is estimated that the purchasing power of persons with disabilities, known as ”Purple pound“It will exceed 50,000 million pounds (58,000 million euros) in 2025.
“The possibility of access to the web is not only the right thing, but also the law demands,” says Smith. “Since most travel sites It offers important arrival barriersUsers with Disability They will spend their time and money on the sites that have access problems. “
The best and worst travel sites in terms of access
Booking.com Es The most visited travel site in the worldWith more than 500 million monthly visits. However, he has held the position of 712,074 out of a million web sites that have been evaluated, to the lowest large large travel companies. Booking.com He did not respond to the comments request.
Airbnb Trip.com was in the middle of the road in the classification, while Angeda occupied the position 377,532. Among the travel companies that received better results Uber8000, and skyscanner, in 1,113.
In most of the discovered errors, the most common problem The text was with little contrastDiscovered in 79.1 % of the starting pages that were reviewed. In more than half of the websites, the problem of “alternative text” was discovered in the images, that is, a phrase describing the image content.
Other repeated problems were the lack of stickers in the empty models, links and empty buttons, all of which could Inspection of content understanding For people with visual disabilities.
An audio study revealed this 41 % of travel and hospitality sites Disconnect navigation and research and achieve information Reservations For users who can only use the keyboard. The report also reveals that colorful contrast problems in the travel and hospitality sector in all business sectors.
Almost users with visual disabilities are impossible
Lucy Edwards lost his right eye vision at the age of 11 due to hereditary disease. He lost the rest of his view at the age of 17. Today is Prize provider, The author and activist of disability, are committed to listing in all sectors.
“Travel web pages It is not always accessible“Lucy explains to” Euronews Travel “. Pictures are not described by the text, so I trust my friends, family and husband to describe the beautiful scenes. “
But they are not only the beautiful pictures of travel that people like Lucy. Problems arise when keeping the trip at web pages It is not coordinated for an accessible reading. “It is uncommon that you can independently book leave,” says Lucy. “I am always afraid to book something wrong because there are many emerging windows that cancel the activation of my screen reader.”
propagandaScreen readers are programs Convert the text that appears on the computer screen loudly Or, in some cases, even in Braille. He is Decisive So that users with visual problems or learning can reach digital content and interact with them.
“Web sites are generally not adapted to screen readers,” explains Lucy. “I feel frustrated every day, sailing over the Internet“.
The law changes about access to web sites
European access law (whatever) It will enter into force on June 28 this year. He sets rules in all European Union member states, with the aim of eliminating barriers and ensuring that persons with disabilities They can participate completely in society.
Despite AEMA Not only applies to web sitesThe main element is to make all the websites that operate in the European Union are available to everyone. Each company is based in the European Union or operates in information technology and has at least 10 employees and business volume exceeding 2 million euros must abide by regulations.
propagandaSpecifically, the law requires that all web pages be Tanged, controlled, can be understood And hardness for all users. Use as a minimum requirement of the rules set by access to the web, which is usually called WCAG.
In the simplest forms of application, wcag They demand read sources With high -contrast color schemes, clearly transmitting with descriptive links, inserting an alternative text for all images and video translations, and ensuring that all interactive elements are accessed by the keyboard.
Companies that do not comply with fines and legal procedures may face, Exclusion of employment activities And the negative advertisement. “In general, the experience (web) was crying,” Lucy recognizes “Euronews Travel”. “I am very lucky with help, but it shouldn’t be.”
It is clear that the European Union is consistent with this and is preparing for its uncomfortable position Companies discussion. Time to Travel companies The batteries are placed on planning, reservation and travel experience something that everyone can enjoy.
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